Miss McCleod's Reel

I've put this tune up many times before, but really I just can't get enough of it. This tune is played a few different ways, and it's also known as Uncle Joe. It's played in either G or D.



YouTube/fiddle4u

More Irish Traditional Music

I can't get enough good Irish music. Here is a really fine session.



YouTube/coguish

Live from the Blue Plate Special

I am usually unable to go to the Blue Plate Special in Knoxville because it's in the middle of day during the week. I went on a fluke yesterday and much to my surprise, Chance McCoy was there playing with Old Sledge. They're really great, play a variety of styles from western swing, to Mississippi riverboat-type of music, and of course Appalachian old-time music.

The second band was one I had never heard of, the Defibulators, but they are interesting to say the least. They are high-energy, have like 8 people on stage at a time, and have a good stage presence.

the Defibulators - "Winchester" from BoB Coon on Vimeo.

What struck me with both of these bands (Chance McCoy himself excluded) was the confirmation of what I have commented on here often. The people in the bands are from Vermont, Brooklyn, and California; places that are well outside the traditional hub of old-time music, especially the style they play. Not a criticism, just an observation.

That's the direction old-time music in America is moving. It's increasingly played by young people who come from urban areas out West or in the northeast. They're good, and give the music a new kind of sound that is distinct from what came before it. In the same way, the people playing in the 1930s sounded distinct from those that came before them. It's really interesting to see how the music is evolving, both demographically and geographically.

If you're looking for some modern twists to traditional styles of music, I recommend looking up both of these bands.

St. Patrick's Blue Plate Special

If you're local, or even if you're not, this should be a good celebration on Wednesday. You can tune on on the web if you want to hear it at www.wdvx.com.

The most beautiful music of all is the music of what happens. - Irish proverb WDVX Spring Fund Drive March 17 to 28 Matt McNeely Four Leaf Peat Cutthroat Shamrock Shamrock Road JOIN US March 17th for an all-Irish, all-local Blue Plate Special 12 noon to 1:30 PM A special kick-off party for the Spring Fund Drive With delicious refreshments from: Mapgies Cakes It is time again to show your support for YOUR independent, commercial-free station... WDVX-FM Don't you feel fortunate to have WDVX as a part of your life? Everyday you know you can tune in and hear quality music, without all the commercials and other distractions. You can always count on WDVX to be your connection to the newest, hottest in bluegrass and Americana, as well as some of the classics you love. And where else can you hear so much quality live music? WDVX counts on listeners like you to keep the music going. So call us, write us, email us, go online, or just come on by... and make your donation today! After all "The most beautiful music of all is the music of what happens" when you support WDVX! Sincerely, Your friends at WDVX

More Lunasa to Get Ready for St. Paddy's

Yesterday I posted on Damien Rice, a fine Irish musician. To continue honoring all of the great music out of Ireland as we get closer to St. Patrick's Day, here are some of the finest musicians playing Irish music these days, Lunasa:



YouTube/k4hx1

Not Exactly Old Time, But....

Well, this is not really old-time at all, but one of the best acoustic performers in Ireland not doing traditional music is Damien Rice, and this is one my favorite songs of his. It's not on one of his two albums, but it is relatively easy to find. It's called Lonely Soldier. Though this isn't the best version of it that I've heard, it's good nonetheless.



YouTube/tripleheartheart

Lonely Soldier MP3

Sandy Boys

One of my favorite YouTube profiles is fiddlinred because he always posts easy to follow tunes. He's been gone from the internet for a while, but he's back now and his most recent post is a tune called Sandy Boys.

I first heard this from the Striped Pig Stringband, which is linked somewhere in the archives of this blog if you want to use the search box.

If you want to learn the tune, here's fiddlinred's version. Pretty nice.

Petronella

Frank George is a living legend in West Virginia. Here he is playing a tune I like but don't get to hear too much. I believe it's more popular in New England, and it's called Petronella.



YouTube/chrisvia1

Dervish

I'm certainly more into American old-time music than Celtic music, but lately Celtic music has been kind of my thing. I still don't know too much about it, or how to play it. No matter, Dervish seems like they know a thing or two.

Liza Jane

If you're familiar with old-time music in West Virginia, you've probably come across the Samples Brothers. They bring down the house every time with their signature tune, Liza Jane.

I've never really met anyone else who plays it quite like they do, even though lots of people play a tune called Liza Jane or some derivative thereof. But then again, I haven't lived in West Virginia since the 80s and that version may just be a West Virginia rendition.

I don't really know, but here is a West Virginian, Elmer Rich, playing the same version of that tune. Here he's playing about one quarter of the tempo the Samples Brothers usually go, but it's a nice tune nonetheless.



YouTube/YewPiney

Jimmy Tripplett

Jimmy Tripplett is pretty well known around here, though recordings are hard to find. Certainly one of the finest fiddlers around.



YouTube/boscoheja

Lunasa

My current favorite new discovery is an Irish group called Lunasa. They play traditional Irish tunes and have a pretty robust web presence.

My favorite tune of theirs at the moment is called "Morning Nightcap," played here in this really great video:



YouTube/sgoworld

The Gilded Bats

What's up everybody, it's been a while. Turns out finishing a PhD is demanding of one's time. My month-long hiatus has not been good to my music playing or appreciation.

Nonetheless, for the first time in a long time, I stumbled across a really cool band, the Gilded Bats. Like many bands, they have MP3s on their MySpace page and they are worth checking out.

They are from Iowa City, and here they are playing in their hometown:



YouTube/YewPineyMountain

More Chance McCoy

Still haven't moved on from a strong Chance McCoy phase, so here is some more goodness from him. This is Jimmy Johnson, and he also plays it on his album which you can easily find on iTunes.

Chance McCoy and the Appalachian String Band

Some of the people I play music with have been raving about Chance McCoy for a while now. For whatever reason, I did not look into it sufficiently until now. I could struggle to write a review myself, but it wouldn't say anything different from what you can already see on his MySpace page.

Here are the essentials:
He's from eastern West Virginia, a major plus as far as I'm concerned, and has learned from many of the state's greats, including Dave Bing.

A recently recorded album with The Appalachian String Band includes Adam Hurt on the banjo, who I think is one of the best young banjo players around. I had bought Adam Hurt's solo album (Insight) a while ago and really enjoy that one as well.

If you've played much in West Virginia, the repertoire on the album will be familiar, including tunes like "Shelvin Rock," "Yew Piney Mountain," and "Jimmy Johnson."

In short, I highly recommend this, I think it's one of the best newer acts to come along in a while.

Here are some videos from what I believe is Chance McCoy's personal YouTube profile:



Dance All Night With A Bottle In Your Hand MP3

And Wild Horse of Stony Point, or just "Stony Point" as I've often heard it called: